24 Sep 18

Priorslee Lake and Priorslee Flash

Priorslee Lake: 06:15 – 07:45 // 08:50 – 10:15
The Flash: 07:50- 08:45

8°C > 11°C: Mainly fine and clear. Light NW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:58 BST

Some more signs of Autumn passage today with 2 Meadow Pipits heard over both the lake and The Flash: and a rather early Siskin heard over the lake. The clear skies were not conducive to seeing small birds flying over. Both these species were noted on a migration watch Saturday morning at Belvide reservoir - >300 of the former. I was in Kent on Saturday morning and >100 Meadow Pipits flew over Rochester in the morning

The geese seemed to have left early this morning and before I arrived – it was a clear, if not a moonlight, night. They returned to The Flash early as well

Priorslee Lake: 06:15 – 07:45 // 08:50 – 10:15

(113th visit of the year)

Unusual was 6 Common Buzzards in the air together over the lake. Equally unusual was that none of them called. All the birds I checked were adults – hard to keep track of them to make sure I looked at all six as they circled around

Other bird notes:
- first, albeit rather small, roost dispersal flight of Jackdaws this morning. 43 birds in the first loose group
- unusual was a Reed Bunting seen flying over from the fields to the E and away to the NW

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake: (affected by my late arrival and the poor weather)
- 12 Canada Geese [1 group inbound]
- 6 Common Buzzards
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove
- 24 Wood Pigeons
- 60 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook again
- 3 Pied Wagtails
- 2 Meadow Pipits
- 1 Siskin
- 1 Reed Bunting

Hirundines etc. noted
None

Warblers noted:
- 9 (1) Chiffchaffs

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans as usual
- 2 (1♂) Gadwalls
- 9 (4♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallards
- 14 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes
- 4 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 9 Moorhens
- 135 Coots
- 35 Black-headed Gulls

And other notes
- very few crane-flies compared with a week ago when there were >100 around the side of the football field
- my log today
- 1 Speckled Wood butterfly
- 1 probable Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moth) on the lamps
- 1 Common Blue Damselfly
- >10 wasp sp.
- >10 ‘greenbottle’ Lucilia sp. flies
- >5 probable Phaonia viarum (Muscid fly)
- >2 Common Crane-fly (Tipula oleracea)
- 1 16 Spot Ladybird (Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata)
- 2 Common Green Shield Bugs (Palomena prasina)
- 1 White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- 1 Grey Squirrel

A briefly rather lurid sunrise today. Most of the ‘clouds’ are defunct vapour-trails from early aircraft from the USA destined for further east in Europe.

And ‘the other way’ with a few trees showing Autumn tints.

And talking of Autumn tints this tree alongside Teece Drive always produces some bright foliage on some branches while others stay green.

This party of 6 Tufted Ducks flew in. Looks like 4 drakes in the centre flanked by 2 ducks / immatures.

One of the party of 6 Common Buzzards circling above the lake. This is certainly an adult and seems to have finished its post-breeding moult with all wing- and tail- feathers present and correct.

Was unable to get a better shot of this moth on a lamp-post: pretty sure it is a female Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moth) – the males are more distinctly marked and easier to ID.

This is a female Common Blue Damselfly. Likely my latest-ever record of this species here.

This likely a Phaonia viarum (Muscid fly). However there are many similar species ...

A Common Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina).

And another. Prior to winter hibernation they acquire a bronzy colour.

A 16 Spot Ladybird (Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata). My first-ever was here on 07 June this year.

A small White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:50- 08:45

(92nd visit of the year)

Notes
- both adult Mute Swans present and correct this morning
- all geese, bar just 4 Canada's, flew in while I was walking around. As usual some may have gone inside the island before I could count them
- no juvenile Mallards specifically noted today: most birds were in a single mass and this could have harboured some well-grown ducklings

Birds noted flying over or near to The Flash
- 2 Cormorants
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 2 Meadow Pipits

Local hirundines etc. noted
None

Warblers noted
- 2 Chiffchaffs

The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 111 Greylag Geese
- 53 Canada Geese
- 48 (21♂) Mallard
- 17 (?♂) Tufted Ducks again
- 1 Cormorant again
- 1 Grey Heron yet again
- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes still
- 7 Moorhens
- 13 Coots yet again
- 35 Black-headed Gulls

Three Greylag Geese on finals, just lowering the undercarriage.

And splash-down for these three Canada Geese.

A Grey Heron in reflective pose standing on an old Coot nest.

And a closer view.

Of interest between the lake and The Flash
- Moorhen(s) calling from both pools
- 1 Chiffchaff calling by the lower pool
- 1 Goldcrest calling by the lower pool

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
1 Yellow Wagtail
(John Isherwood)